Camp Descriptions

In addition to the specialized activities listed below, all campers will enjoy daily Bible studies, swimming, small and large group games, delicious food, challenge courses, a pool party, campfires, hikes, cookouts, worship, new friends, “Scales and Tales” environmental programming, and the camp store. Campers under age 10 may take a hay ride and create fun crafts while campers age 11 and older may participate in a zipline, rock climbing, archery, canoeing, night hikes, and more.

Day Camp
Day camp offers a wonderful way to ensure your child is spending time outside, learning about Christ, and generally having a great time. For more information, click to visit the Day Camp page.

Adventure Camp
A week packed with exciting activities that include whitewater rafting, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, and a high ropes course. Spend a week outdoors, cook over an open fire, and have a ball with old and new friends. This program focuses on individual challenges and team work. There are a limited number of spots available, so register soon!

Civil War Camp
Tour local battlefields and museums, including an overnight trip to Gettysburg, in this week-long historic experience. Other destinations include Harper’s Ferry and Antietam, though the fun does not stop there. Fort-building and history lessons make for a great week of camp!

Confirmation CampEnjoy a week of a biblical story come to life! Pastors from the Delaware/Maryland and Metro DC Synods along with MLR counselors lead a week of faith development and biblical exploration. Open to all ELCA congregations and youth going through confirmation.

Cooking Camp The best fun is edible while campers learn and experiment with the basics of cooking, baking, and food science. For a few hours a day, campers will work with our professional chef to develop skills and cook food to share with one another!

Family CampEnjoy three days of activities geared toward families as well as some free time to explore the Ridge on your own. The Ridge Inn is comfortable and accessible. Intergenerational fun for all! Register Here

Hammock Camp
Spend a week sleeping at different hammock sites on the Ridge. You will enjoy the usual Jr. High activities like rock climbing and/or high ropes, archery, night hikes, swimming, campfires, special evening events, and many other unique outdoor activities.

Horseback Camp
Learn basic riding skills, grooming, and general horse care, or sharpen your equestrian skills. Whether you’re a novice or experienced rider, you’ll enjoy riding every morning at North Fork School of Equitation in Jefferson, MD. Five one-hour lessons are included.

Jr. Arts/Arts CampCampers will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of arts ranging from singing, dancing, playing instruments, photography, painting, drawing, and/or other visual and performing arts. Professional help will be given in some of the activities.

Junior & Junior High CampsA traditional week at Mar-Lu-Ridge is still better than a week anywhere else! In addition to standard camp activities such as swimming, hiking, and Bible studies, junior campers will have the opportunity to participate in lots of fun crafts and games, and enjoy other age-based activities. Junior high campers will tackle some new challenges including archery, night hikes, camping out, rock climbing and/or high ropes.

Junior High ExpressCome join us for a shortened week of Jr High – maybe it’s your first camp experience or maybe you’re adding it on because you can’t get enough time at MLR! Enjoy 3 nights (Sunday-Wednesday) of fun, cool activities, and new friends.

Makers CampCampers will have fun by learning to take initiative and making some cool creations with actual tools and technology. For a few hours a day, campers will work with one of our professional maintenance staff. Then, they can really show their friends how to “do it yourself!”

Mini Camp
This program is an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the overnight camp experience. Mini Camp is 3 nights (Sunday-Wednesday) with a sample of some of MLR’s great camp activities – swimming, games, arts and crafts, hiking, and singing.

Night Owl Camp
This program will let you enjoy a week of great camp experiences with a different twist – stay up later every night, play games in the dark, and dance around the fire with a final awake-all-night experience, followed by a sunrise worship service to top off the week.

Pioneer Camp

Campers will enjoy a wide variety of frontier activities such as archery, fishing, rock climbing, and swimming. At night, campers will sleep well in newly renovated arks after a full day of great camp activities.

Senior High CampGet connected, strengthen your faith, explore and rejuvenate. Senior High week has it all: late night games, great fellowship, high ropes/rock climbing, Coffeehouse/talent show, and in-depth discussions about issues facing high school youth today.

Space Camp (NEW in 2018!)
Join us for a week that will be out of this world! Campers will learn about space from a real rocket scientist, explore the physics of camp activities such as high ropes, and build their very own rocket! A trip to Chantilly’s Udvar-Hazy Center (National Air and Space Museum) will make this an exciting week together full of science adventures.

Sports Camp Campers will play their favorite sports from basketball and soccer to football and Frisbee. Participate in sports-themed Bible studies, improve skills, and get some scrimmage time in!

Staff-In-Training (SIT) Program
This program is for those who desire to become MLR staff. Participants will develop the skills, awareness, and experience required to be a high-quality, safety conscious staff member through extensive training for two weeks, followed by a week of shadowing a MLR staff member. A phone interview is part of the process. (Please fill out and send us the regular Mar-Lu-Ridge Summer Camp Registration Form and you will receive follow-up materials in June).

Swimming CampLearn to swim or just improve your skills with a week of daily swim lessons and practice while doing all of the other great camp activities in the afternoon. Bible studies may even be held in or by the pool!

Wild and Crazy Camp! A camp for kids who like being wild and crazy! Sing really loudly, play in the mud, eat with no hands, and generally have more fun than seems reasonable in a single week. Plan to have lots of stories to share at the end of the week!